Mackenzie+Magee's+N+Word+Research

(2014 February 25). Ryan Clark: Tough to Legislate Rule. //ESPN.// Retrieved from []

Article about how the NFL committee is considering giving out penalties to players who use the “n” word. Most players agree that this would be a difficult rule to enforce.

West, Cornel. (2007, July 17). Race: State of Affairs. //The Washington Post.//

This transcript discusses West’s opinions of the “n” word as it is used in hip-hop. He argues that the word should be used more sensitively, as it conjures a history of “self-hatred and self-disrespect.”

Blackmore, Dana T. (2013 August 12). Tom Ford, the N-Word, and What Oprah Winfrey and Jay Z Have in Common. //The Huffington Post.//

This article discusses celebrities’ different views on the “n” word. Some people draw a distinction between the spelling “nigger” and “nigga,” claiming that the former is unacceptable and the latter acceptable. One celebrity mentioned that the latter form is alright for white people to use because it signifies a friendly relationship with someone. Jay-Z argues that the word itself does not contain significant power, and that “if we eliminate the N-word, other words would just take its place.” Oprah Winfrey, however, still believes that the word is offensive and should not be used at all.

Knecht, Kathryn. Facing the N Word. //Teaching Tolerance.// Retrieved from [].

The author of this article offers her own experience teaching her fifth-grade class about the N-word. After selecting a text that was banned from several schools for its use of the N-word, Knecht discussed the text with her students and asked them how they felt about the term before opening the book. Their homework assignment was to talk to their families about the word “Negro” and ask if they found it offensive. Students reported back with mixed responses, and Knecht asked the students if she should read the N-word aloud or not while they read the text. The students voted in favor of replacing the N-word with the term Negro. Knecht argues that teachers should use the N word and literature that uses it to have important discussions about race with students.

My research of the N-word and how it is used in both society and in literature prompted me to realize that, at least in the classroom, it is important for teachers to lead sensitive discussions on the word and what it means to people. These discussions can lead to important conversations about race and the history of oppression in the United States. How the term is used societally seems more controversial than how it is dealt with in schools. Many academics, musicians and professional athletes argue over the appropriate use of the term. Some consider the difference between the word “nigger” and “nigga” to be significant in determining whether the word is derogatory or not, while others consider all variations of the word as offensive. Others argue that African Americans can say any form of the word, while white people and people of other races cannot without being offensive.
 * Reflection **